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Annals of DDI
vol. 16

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Tulcea, Romania
2010

Data on the distribution of the Greater Black-headed Gull

(Larus ichthyaetus Pall. 1773) and its breeding in the
Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve
1

KISS J. Botond , ALEXE Vasile , MARINOV E. Mihai , SNDOR D. Attila

Addresses:
1
- Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development: 165 Babadag Str., 820112 Tulcea, Romania
2
- Environmental Protection Agency: 10 Podeni street, Trgu Mure - 540253, Romania
Address of author responsible for correspondence: KISS J. Botond Danube Delta National Institute for Research and
Development: 165 Babadag Str., 820112 Tulcea, Romania; e-mail: jbkiss@indd.tim.ro

BSTRACT. In the present article the authors provide data on the first record of the breeding in Romania of the

Greater Black-headed Gull (Larus ichthyaetus). The colony was identified on June 4th, 2009, on a new island located in
the Musura gulf, at the north-eastern border of the Danube Delta (Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve).

Key words: Great Black-headed Gull, Romania, breeding, Danube Delta

INTRODUCTION
The Great Black-headed Gull (Larus ichthyaetus Pall. 1773) has a vast breeding range, from W China and SW
Siberia all along Central Asia, Caspian Sea to the northern shores of the Black Sea. Having a large tolerance
towards environmental conditioons it breeds in colonies on river islands, sandy sea shores, around steppe and
desert lakes and even in higher altitude regions, up to 4200 m asl. The colony sizes range between 2-3 to 40,000
pairs, with up to 3.5 nests / m2. The species is highly plastic in food choice, mostly a fish eater, but consumes
insectes and hunts for eggs and nestlings of other species, small mammals [1; 3; 4; 5; 6; 8]. This high plasticity
and adaptability to diverse conditions may favor its westward expansion. The goal of this poster is to present
records of its recent expansion and to document its firs breeding records in the Danube Delta.

STUDY SITE AND METHODS

We used the available bibliographic resources, electronic documents and accesible databasaes to provide an
assessment of all published (and unpublished) records. There are a number of own field observations, made
using binoculars and spotting scopes. The field surveys were performed to areas where the occurrence of the
species was considered to be highly probabale, while all promising areas were visited at least once. All collected
site records were analysed and grouped according location, date and group composition. We excluded the
observations from the year 2009 as the birds present for breeding may distrosionate the general patterns of
observations.

RESULTS
A number of 106 site records were collected, relating 586 birds. These are mostly located in the Danube Delta
and coastal areas of Dobrogea, however 4 site records are from mainland Romania (see Fig 1 and Fig. 2 with the
distribution of record-sites). Most observations came from the wintering period, but in the last three decades more
and more observations were noted even in spring (see Fig 3). In Ostrovul Musura, close to the mouth of Sulina
Branch, on an unnamed island a small colony of the Great Black-headed Gull was located on June 4th, 2009. The
colony consisted of breeding pairs.

DISCUSSION
We posess relativel small number of observations and site records of Great Black-headed Gull in Romania and
most of these are dated after 1990. Without any doubt, the species reached the country from NE, via Ukraine.
According to BEZZEL (1985) a small colony was located in Ukraine in 1972 [1], and most distribution maps show
the species range as reaching till the Colga Delta and northern coasts of the Black Sea [3; 8]. According however,
to DEMENTIEV and GLADKOV (1951) in 1934 there were already breeding colonies in the N part of the Black
Sea, on islands of Ciongar and Kitai lakes [4]. We suggest that these differences in breeding range descriptions
are a result of the scientific isolation of scientists from the Soviet area. TUGARINOVA and PORTENKO (1952)
relates about the breeding of the species in the Sivash (Aral Sea) [15], and NANKINOV (1996) already presents
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data about the breeding of up to 1100 pairs around Karkinitski Zakaznik and Azovo-Sivash Zapovednik State
Reserve, Krivaya Kosa State Reserve in Ukraine and Russia [12]. There are several observations presented
(without any reference to breeding) from the northern part of the Danube Delta in SHELYAG-SOSONKO (1999)
[13].
Starting from the late 1980s, the breeding population of the Black-headed Gull in Romania started to raise,
reaching 45.000-50.000 pairs, with the stronghold in Ukraine [6], however there are several contradictions among
sources [2; 6; 9]. Important breeding colonies are present on the shores of Azov Sea, in S Crimea and in SW
Ukraine, in Yagorlitzky, Karkinisky, Sivash and Krivaya lakes [6; 14].
Bearing in mind the above, it is somehow strange to note the scarcity of observations in Romania, especially that
the first mentioning of the species cames from 1918, FLOERICKE [16]. Especially, if we highlight, that the
distance between the Lake Kitay and the Romanian border is not more than 10 km! After a half century lack of
observations, the species is noted in the late sixties along the shores of Sinoie and the Black Sea [17; 18].
Based on the high adaptability and expansion rate of the species, we believe that it will expand its range even
further inland. In its Asian main breeding range mostly uses shallow steppe lakes for breeding, we suppose that
will expand its range towards those along the Danube.
As the distribution of records shows (see Fig. 2), most observations are grouped on areas with shallow water,
usually brackish ones which stay unfrozen all along winter.
As its is shown in Fig. 3., the species occurs all year long, however its presence is most probable in the wintering
period.
The first proof of breeding was noted on Ostrovul Musura, close to Sulina on newly formed small islands (see Fig.
4). Ostrovul Musura has high importance for birds, especially in the breeding period. KISS et al. (2008) found high
concentrations of breeding Charadriiformes, with mixed colonies starting from the S tip and continuing some km
lenght till the middle of the islands [10], but this may follow further on the Ukrainean territory, where we had no
access. Most important breeding species is the Pontic Gull (Larus cachinnans), followed by the Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo), Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) and Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta). There were
observations of Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) and Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), showing
signs of breeding behaviour. Most Pontic Gulls were having small (2 to 3 week) nestlings at the moment of the
observation. In the middle of the Pontic Gull colony a compact group of Great Black-headed Gull was observed,
composed by nestlings and the adults surrounding them. We estimated the age of these nestling to be around 2
to 3 weeks. They reacted more violently to the intruders, with a higher degree of escape reactions than the Pontic
Gull youngs, fleeing from a distance of up to 150 m. There is a clear difference between the downy ploumage of
the two species, with the Great Black-headed Gull being clear white in contrast to the dirty brown Pontic Gull
youngs [3; 5; 7].
To reduce the impact of our intrusion, we only made a few distant photos and have not approached the colony
site. Based on the counts from the slides, we estimated a number of 70 youngs, this may correspond to a
breeding colony of up to 70 pairs [3; 5].
After the breeding ceased, we revisited the colony site on 26.07.2009. The nests were located in a semicircle,
with a diameter of cca. 20 m, with nests placed close to each other some 0.7 m appart. At this date no Great
Black-headed Gull was noted in the area.

CONCLUSIONS
- The site records of Great Black-headed Gull present a gradual increasing trend on the territory of Romania and
show a higher frequency in the last three decades.
- Most observations were registered along the Black Sea coast, with less than 1 % seen inland.
- Although most records came from the wintering period, the species may be seen all year long.
- In the year 2009 we recorded the first breeding event in the Danube Delta, finding a colony of up to 70 pairs,
successfully raising some 70 young in Musura Golf.
- Based on the increasing number of observations, we estimate that the species will continue its expansion further
inland in the near future..

REFERENCES
1. BEZZEL (E.), 1985 - Kompendium der Vgel Mitteleuropas. Nonpasseriformes. Aula-Verlag. Wiesbaden, pp. 514 515.
2. BURFIELD (I.), BOMMEL (F.), 2004 - Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. Vol. 12, page.
134. BirdLife International, Cambridge.

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3. CRAMP (S.), BROOKS (D. J. R.), DUNN (E.), GILLMOR (R.), HALL-CRAGS (J.), HOLLOM (P. A. D.), NICHOLSON (E. M.),
OGILVIE (M. A.), ROSELAAR (C. S.), SELLAR (P. J.), SIMMONS (K. E. L.), VOOUS (K. H.),. WALLACE (D. I. M.),
WILSON (M. G.), 1983 - Handbook of the birds of Europe the Middle East and North Africa. Oxford. Vol. 3., pp. 705 712.
4. DEMENTIEV (G. P.), GLADKOV (N. A.), 1951 - Ptichi Sovetskovo Sajuza. Gos. Izd. Sovet. Nauka. Moskova. Vol. 3., p. 505
510. [in Russian]
5. GLUTZ von BLOTZHEIM (U. N.), BAUER (K. M.), BEZZEL (E.), 1975 - Handbuch der Vgel Mitteleuropas. Charadriiformes.
Vol. 8, Tom. 1, pp. 402-412. Akad. Verlag., Wiesbaden, Germany.
6. HAGEMEIJER (W. J. M.), BLAIR (M.), 1997 - The EBCC Atlas of european breeding birds: their distribution and abundance.
page 323. T&A.D. Poyser. London.
7. HARRISON (C.), 1975 - Jungvgel, Eier und Nester aller Vgel Europas, Nordafrikas und Mittleren Ostens. pp. 176 177.
Verlag Parey, Hamburg and Berlin.
8. HARRISON (P.), 1996 - Seabirds of the World. page 254. Chr. Helm. A & Black. London
9. HEATH (M.), BORGGREVE (C.), PEET (N.), 2000 - European bird populations: estimates and trends. pp. 10 - 56. BirdLife
International, Cambridge.
10. KISS (J. B.), MARINOV (M.), ALEXE (V.), 2008 - Preliminary data on the ornithological fauna of the islet forming in the south
part of Musura Gulf, between Stambulul Vechi (Ukraine) and Sulina (Romania) branches of the Danube. IN: Scientific
Annals of the Danube Delta Institute, vol. 14, pp. 31 - 34. Tulcea.
11. MARINOV (M.), 2006 - Date preliminare cu privire la avifauna din Coridorul Verde al Dunrii (15-21 decembrie 2004). IN:
Delta Dunrii. Studii i cercetri de tiinele naturii i muzeologie, vol. 3, pp. 181 - 192. Tulcea. [in Romanian, with English
abstract]
12. NANKINOV (D. N.), 1996 - Coastal parks and reserves along the Black Sea and their importance for seabirds. IN: Marine
Ornithology, vol. 24, pp. 29 34.
13. SHELYAG-SOSONKO (YU.) (ed), 1999 - Bioriznomanitnisti Dunaiskovo Biosfernovo Zapavidnika, zverejennia upravlinia.
page 575. Naukova Dumka, Kiev [in Ukrainian]
14. SIOKHIN (V. D.) (ed.), 2000 - Cislenosti i razmescienie gnezdiatihsia okolovodnih pti b vodno-balotnih ugodiah AzovoCiernomorskov poberejia Ukraini. pp. 115 126, pp. 168 200, pp. 394 406. Editura Branta. Melitopol Kiev. [in
Ukrainian]
15. TUGARINOVA (A. I.), PORTENKO (A. A.), 1952 - Atlas ahotichi i promislovih pti i zverei SSSR. page 254. Izd. Akad. Nauk
SSSR. Moskva. [in Russian]
16. VAN IMPE (J.), 1977 - Lavifauna estivale du complexe lagunaire Razelm/Sinoe (Roumanie). IN: Alauda, vol. 45, pp. 17 52.
17. VASILIU (G. D.), OVA (Ct.), 1968 - Fauna Vertebratica Romaniae. IN: Muz. Jud. Bacu. Seria St. Nat. Studii i
Comunicri, vol. 2, page. 141. Bacu [in Romanian]
18. VEILLARD (J.), 1967 - Bref commentaires sur lavifaune de Roumanie. IN: Alauda, vol. 35, pp. 62 - 64.
19. * * *, 2004 - Birds in Europe II: population estimates, trends and conservation status (BIRDLIFE/EBCC). page. 134. BirdLife
International, Cambridge.
Manuscript received: February 2010
Manuscript accepted: June 2010
Printed: August 2010

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Fig. 1. Distribution of site records of Great Black-headed Gull

(Larus ichthyaetus) in Romania.

Fig. 2. Localisation of record-sites in

Dobrogea (south-eastern Romania).

400
350
300
No. of specimens

250
200
150
100
50

No. of records

0
Winter

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Fig. 3. The distribution of the observed individuals according to the season of the observations.

Fig. 4. The distinct gruoping of the Great Black-headed Gull colony.

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